Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Rossington ‘At A Loss For Words’ After Bob Burns’ Death

This morning, it was learned that Bob Burns, the original drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, died in a single-car crash in Cartersville, Ga., late last night (April 3) Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington, who founded the group with Burns, released a statement about his former bandmate.

"Well, today I'm at a loss for words, but I just remember Bob being a funny guy," he wrote on Lynyrd Skynyrd's Facebook page. "He was just so funny, he used to do skits for us and make us laugh all the time, he was hilarious! Ironically, since we played Jacksonville yesterday. Dale, my daughter and I, went by the cemetery to see some of the guys in the band and my parents' grave sites. On the way back, we went by Bob Burns' old house, it was there in the carport where we used to first start to practice with Skynyrd. My heart goes out to his family and God bless him and them in this sad time. He was a great, great drummer."

Another veteran Southern rock band, the Outlaws, wrote the following tribute to Burns, also on Facebook. "Our old friend and original Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Bob Burns died last night in a truck accident in Cartersville, Ga. Another old friend is gone and like Skynyrd fans everywhere we'll miss Bob."

Burns and Rossington founded Lynyrd Skynyrd with Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant and Larry Junstrom in Jacksonville, Fla., in the mid-'60s. After two albums, Burns left the band in early 1975 due to mental health issues.